Gayle Ritsos

Gayle Hicks Ritsos, “Miss Gayle,” 72, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014 in Crystal Lake. She was born in Atlanta, GA on December 2, 1941 to Benton and Grace (Flood) Hicks. She met Theodore (Ted) Ritsos in high school in 1957. They were high school sweethearts, marrying on July 25, 1964.

Gayle is survived by her husband Ted, of Crystal Lake, IL her daughter Kimberly (Mark) Simchak of Island Lake, IL, son Christopher Ritsos of Crystal Lake, grandchildren Kaitlyn and Nickolas Simchak and Hailey and Jacob Ritsos and her brother Grant Hicks and Jan Bachrach of Benita Springs, FL.

Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, Benton and Grace Hicks.

Gayle grew up in Chicago, IL. She won an art scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago when she was in the eighth grade. This honor and recognition started her lifelong love of art that she shared with students, friends and family. She graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, IL in 1960.

After high school she attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, before starting classes at Stephens College in Columbia, MO. She took classes in design and fashion illustration, graduating in 1962 with an Associate in Art degree. While volunteering at her daughter’s school she was encouraged to go back to school to get a degree. She did, earning a certificate in Early Childhood Education.

She taught preschool for many years; at Stepping Stone Preschool in Bolingbrook for 9 years, United Methodist Church in Fox River Grove for 3 years, Rocky Raccoon Preschool and Daycare in Cary for 19 years, St Barnabas Lutheran Church in Cary for 6 years, and Purple Moose Preschool in Crystal Lake for 2 years. She served as a substitute at Holy Cross Preschool when needed as well.
She served as a volunteer for several organizations, including Good Shepherd Hospital Gift Shop, The Ladies Auxiliary of Good Shepherd Hospital, Art in the Barn, Sparrow’s Nest and On Angel’s Wings Animal Rescue and Thrift Shop. In addition, she and three other women were instrumental in rehabbing over eighty abandoned HUD homes and getting them re-occupied in a non-profit neighborhood venture.

Gayle traveled to many exciting locations such as Switzerland, The Grand Cayman Islands, New Zealand and Brazil.

The visitation for Gayle will be held Thursday, May 29, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave (Rt 176), Crystal Lake. A graveside service will be held the following day, May 30, at Windridge Memorial Park in Cary at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to On Angels Foundation, 405 Lake Zurich Rd, Barrington, IL 60010.